From another ng

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A couple of hams are going to be a lot more help there than a couple of dozen Bubbas in bass boats.

"LRod" wrote in message
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How is that? A lot of folks have been thankful for "Bubbas" in bass boats". Historically in floods, shallow draft boats can save a ton of folks from rooftops, trees, and attics.

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Emphasis on Bubbas, not bass boats.
In emergency situations there is almost as much difficulty managing willing but untrained or ill equipped volunteers as there is managing the crisis in the first place.

"LRod" wrote in message
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boats".
IMO, that's a load of condescending horseshit. Oddly enough, the authorities were asking for just such action from "Bubba's in bass boats" ... their regard is obviously higher than yours, but still probably not as high as the rescued, who could care less as long as they are.

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You don't know much about emergency management, do you?
Here are some excerpts of information from another newsgroup (amateur radio, the first line of communications in nearly all major disasters) Pay close attention to the quotes from officials. Start with Sentence Two:
The on-the-ground situation in SE Louisiana and SW Mississippi is as bad as television is reporting. Neither state is permitting disaster relief agencies into the affected areas except on a very limited basis and only then where conditions are stable. Nearly everyone is still staging as close by as possible and waiting.
The Louisiana SM (Section Manager, an amateur radion organizational area manager) (Mickey Cox K5MC) and SEC (Section Emergency Coordinater-almost always works hand-in-glove with local Emergency Operations Centers which are usually official city-wide or county-wide agencies) (Gary Stratton K5GLS) are in communications with state officials, who have directed them to NOT advertise for volunteers. Some volunteers have been requested, and these are being staged at the state EOC.
The situation for the Mississippi SM and SEC, Malcolm Keown W5XX, in Vicksburg MS is very uncertain. His station is completely on the ground and EchoLink repeaters in the area are off-the-air. Attempts to contact Assistant SMs have been unsuccessful.
An AB2M.net Amateur Radio operator registration web site has been setup and is ready to go public when approval is received. Some Amateur Radio operators are known to be traveling towards the affected areas with emergency services and disaster relief agencies as dedicated communications resources.
Despite everyone's nearly overwhelming desire to help, about all we can do right now is to make preparations for a prompt response when the officials finally give their approval. None of us know when that will occur.

"LRod" wrote in message
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Being from SE Louisiana, having gone through numerous hurricanes and floods of catastrophic proportions, losing a home myself to floodwaters, and talking to relatives in the area as late as this morning, what I obviously know a lot more about than you is that folks are continuing to help each other where there are not enough "emergency managers" to go around, despite what you may hear from the talking heads. politicians, and FEMA bureaucrats on TV, which is where you are obviously getting your information.
Lord help anyone who subscribes to your "don't try this, we're the professionals", attitude in the face of emergencies. These folks, especially the ones outside the view of the TV cameras, are resourceful and there are damn few "bubbas" in the part of the country, and NONE in an emergency of this proportion.
So basically LRod, stick your condescension about "crackers" and "bubbas" where the sun doesn't shine.

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You are clearly not one of those, so keep your unprofessional opinions to yourself. Those better prepared will undoubtedly make some mistakes, but there'll be a Hell of a lot fewer than those caused by a bunch of cowboys running around as if they knew what they were doing. If you do try to go there with a boat you'll be stopped on the highway. You'll accomplish nothing but clogging up the roads and motels for people who really need them.
My brother and I tried to get to New York for his daughters. We couldn't get anywhere close as police blocked the highways. What do you think would be different here? Damn. I asked for your opinion. Well, you can give that for what it's worth. [ By the way, they got out and arrived home in NJ before we did.]